WO2005010454A2

WO2005010454A2 - Cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale

Info

Publication number: WO2005010454A2
Application number: PCT/HR2004/000023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romeo Lambasa
Original assignee: Romeo Lambasa
Priority date: 2003-07-25
Filing date: 2004-07-23
Publication date: 2005-02-03
Also published as: WO2005010454A3; HRP20030605A2

Abstract

The cleaning agent, device and processes for removing settled scale presents an invention that enables and ensures efficient and thorough removal of the layer of settled scale. The active cleaning agent consists of 75-percent phosphoric acid, 31-percent muriatic acid, EDTA, glycol, glycerol and water. Chemical composition of the active agent ensures that treated surfaces are not damaged in the process of removing scale. The active agent is nontoxic and it is safe for the staff, biodegradable and, due to the fact that it does not pollute it, environmentally friendly. Due to its mobility, as well as to the flexible tubes and the sockets, the device enables simple and quick connection to virtually any device comprising the heat exchanger, without any need to move and/or dismantle it. The device operates with increased temperature - optimally within the range 45-65°C, increased pressure - optimally within the range 2-6 bars, flow rate capacity of 25-501/min, high number of exchanges of the active agent, possibility of changing direction of the active agent circulation, and with a possibility of multiple use of the active agent until the acidity value of the solvent reaches the value of pH=3,5. The process could be carried out in any conditions, it is safe for the staff and environmentally friendly. Application of the invention provides maximum functionality and increases the lifetime of the heat exchanger.

Description

CLEANING AGENT, DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR REMOVING SCALE

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of chemical agents, devices and processes aiming at removing scale settled in devices comprising heat exchangers.

According to International Patent Classification the invention can be classified into: F28G 9/00 Cleaning of internal and external surfaces of heat-exchange or heat-transfer conduits, e.g. water tubes or boilers. Cleaning by flushing and washing, e.g. with chemical solvents C02F5/00 Softening water; Preventing scale; Adding scale preventatives or scale removers to water

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Mixing cold and hot water is generally known to enhance the process of scale occurence and sedimentation, which is the basic and most persistent problem in all heat- exchangers. Basic parameters of the technical problem solved by here described invention are:

- an active agent which efficiently dissolves scale, that is non-toxic, non-aggressive to the treated materials (metals, plastics, rubber,...) and which is environmentally friendly, - a device that, due to its mobility and its flexible tubes of variable length, provided with "click" sockets, enables simple and quick connection to virtually any heat exchange device, without any need of moving or dismantling the device,

- a process that provides maximum functionality and increases the lifetime of the heat exchange device that can be carried out in any conditions that is not dangerous to the staff and is environmentally friendly.

3. STATE OF THE ART

Being the most frequent problem, scale is a nightmare and a "daymare" for all providers of scale removing services. One of the most widespread services, daily involved in the problem of removing scale and will here be taken as a very relevant example, is servicing the coffee-making machines for espresso. All the examples and the values of the data relate to testing and research carried out in the service-shops for espresso coffee makers, the independent ones as well as those integrated in coffee industry systems.

A layer of scale thick as much as 0,1 mm, since it acts as a very efficient heat insulator, decreases the temperature of the medium which is to be heated to a certain temperature by over 25%. Consequently, the unnecessarily increased consumption of electrical energy is due to the increased energy required to heat up the scale layer. Besides higher expenses for the increased electric energy consumption, there are other negative consequences such as reduced lifetime of the heater bodies due to the increased time in which they are required to be switched on and the increased time needed to obtain the required temperature of the medium, e.g. water, in machines and devices that use a heat exchanger. Mentioned scale layer of 0,1 mm can be settled e.g. in coffee-making machines during the period of 60 days.

The traditional process of removing scale is time-consuming, complex and hard work, since the coffee-making machine should be dismantled first. After dismantling, separate parts of the machine are immersed into acid baths (with muriatic acid as the main component), that even by evaporation corrode the nearby materials, as well as irritate respiratory organs of the staff. So far, this problem has been solved by providing separated, specially ventilated rooms used exclusively for dangerous and aggressive solvents.

Following the increased concerns for the health of staff among the EU-member countries, dealing with dangerous and toxic substances in closed spaces has been increasingly forbidden. The result is a lack of solutions for scale removing that would not involve highly concentrated toxic solvents. The process of removing scale with aggressive solvents, especially in case of thicker layers and/or from parts that are difficult to reach, results in corrosion and damages the materials which the treated elements (tanks, tubes, valves, heaters...) are made of. Due to this fact, it is necessary that the treated elements are first washed up well, than checked, and finally put together. Only after the coffee-machine has been put together completely and has been put into function, it is possible to check whether all harmful and toxic substances are completely removed. If this is not the case, the process should be repeated. 4. DISCLOSURE OF ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the cleaning agent, device and processes for removing settled scale, using an active, less aggressive chemical agent, high pressure, increased temperature and a large number of exchanges of the active agent.

Primary aim of the invention is to improve and speed up the process of removing scale from the devices comprising heat exchangers of any type or purpose, all of that without a health risk to the operating staff and with a minimum negative influence to the environment.

Secondary aim of the invention is to enable removing scale from the devices comprising heat exchangers without their dismantling and/or moving, thereby saving the required time and energy, which directly reduces overall maintenance expenses.

Further aims and advantages of the invention will be shown partly in the following description, and partly through examples and the application of the invention.

5. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the device according to the invention in cross-section.

Fig. 2 shows the control box with all control elements and the pump connector.

Fig. 3 shows the reversible multi-stage pump with the motor and device connectors.

In the figures and description of the invention the following reference numbers are used: 1 handle of the device 2 inlet for the indirectly heated medium (16) 3 outer wall of the duplicator 4 outlet of the active agent (17) to the pump (31) 5 heater 6 wheels for the transportation of the device 7 nut for the secure sealing of the cover 8 cover 9 inlet connector for the active agent (17) 10 control box 11 inner wall of the duplicator 12 probe 13 outlet for the active agent (17) 14 support 15 outlet for the indirectly heated medium (16) 16 indirectly heated medium (water) 17 active agent 18 push-button - start 19 control lamp on/off 20 push-button - stop 21 safety switch 22 handle for opening and closing the box 23 plug of the pump (31) 24 control lamp of the pump (31) 25 control lamp of the heater (5) 26 switch of the pump (31) 27 switch of the heater (5) 28 regulating thermometer 29 intake socket of the pump (31) 30 outtake socket of the pump (31) 31 pump 32 control-connection box of the pump (31) 33 driving motor for the pump (31)

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT

The basic components of the device for removing scale according to the invention are:

- duplicator tank (Fig.1) with indirect heating by heater (5), - multi-stage pump (31) (Fig.3),

- active, less aggressive, non-toxic agent (17) and

- control box (10) (fig.2). The duplicator tank (boiler) is made of stainless steel tin with a lid (8) for quick filling of the required amount of the active, less aggressive, non-toxic agent (17), the elevated, separate outlet (4) and the central outlet (13) that is placed at the lowest point of the inner tank. The heater (5), situated in the interior of the outer tank (3), heats the medium for indirect heating (16), thereby uniform heating of the active agent (17) is achieved. The medium for indirect heating (16) is poured in through the inlet (2), and drained through the outlet (15). The multi-stage pump (31) provides multiple exchanges and dynamics of the active agent (17), as well as increased pressure. Direction of the pump rotation (31) can be changed by the switch at the control-connection box (32). This provides either the intake of the active solvent, through the intake socket (29), or the outtake through the outtake socket (30). The active, less aggressive, not-toxic agent (17) is prepared according to an original formula, derived from the results of the inventor's own development and research. The active agent (17) is considerably less aggressive to the materials that are in a standard manner used for this purpose (stainless steel, copper, brass, steel, rubber, plastic...) than the agents usually used, and it is also non-toxic, safe for the staff and the environment, as well as biodegradable and environmentally friendly. The active agent (17) consists of: - 75-percent phosphoric acid in the amount of 10-50 wt.%, preferably 20-40 wt.%, and particularly recommended 30-35 wt.%;

- 31-percent muriatic acid in the amount of 5-25 wt.%, preferably 10-20 wt.%, and particularly recommended 12-18 wt.%;

- EDTA in the amount of 2-5 wt.%, preferably 3-4 wt.%, and particularly recommended 3,4- 3,6 wt.%;

- glycol in the amount of 1-5 wt.%;

- glycerol in the amount of 1-3 wt.% and

- water in the amount of 30-65 wt.%.

The control box (10) provides and ensures safe and risk-free operation in all environments, as well as quick pressure and temperature regulation to obtain optimum values of these parameters in each particular case.

The device for removing scale (Fig.1) operates with: - active agent (17); - increased temperature - optimally within the range 45-65°C,

- increased pressure - optimally within the range 2-6 bars and - with a high number of exchanges of the active agent (17).

The device operates with high efficiency, scale is dissolved and removed quickly from all locations where it has settled, regardless of the location and thickness of the layer, which is achieved without any risk for the staff or the environment.

Once the device is connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger, without any need to move it and/or to disassemble it, the solvent, heated to the required temperature, passes throughout the heat exchanger.

Its chemical composition, pressure, temperature and high number of exchanges results in the device removing settled scale thoroughly and efficiently. By adequate choice of the kind, concentration and percentage of high-quality inhibitors in the active agent (17) it is achieved that treated surfaces, made of stainless steel, brass, copper, steel, rubber, plastic and similar, are not damaged in the process of removing scale.

The outlet socket of the heat exchanger connected to the inlet socket of the active agent (17) closes the circulation system. If required, the active agent (17) is additionally heated, by the medium for indirect heating (16), and then returned by the pump (31) into the next cycle of circulation. Efficiency and quality of the process according to the invention are increased also by reversing (changing the direction of rotation) of the driving motor (33) of the pump (31) i.e. by changing direction of the active agent (17) circulation.

Special attention is paid particularly to the following technical characteristics of the device according to the invention, which make it much more advanced and perfected in relation to prior art:

- the sockets at the duplicator, produced in "click" version, provide quick and secure connection and disconnection of the flexible tubes to the duplicator, as well as the possibility of reduction for all types of inch-threads from V" to ³ .", for treated objects,

- mobility of the device eliminates the need to move treated objects such as espresso coffee- makers,

- flexible tubes of adequate length ensure adaptability to any position of the treated object, - choice of the pump providing operating pressure in the range from 2 to 6 bars and with the flow rate capacity from 25 to 50 1/min, - possibility of multiple use of the active agent (17) until the acidity value of the solvent reaches value of pH=3,5.

7. MODE OF USING THE INVENTION

The invention presents a reliable, convenient, durable, useful, environmentally friendly and economically justifiable device. In combination with the active agent (17) and here described process of removing the layer of settled limestone, it presents a revolutionary step forward in this field of technology, in relation to cleaning agents, devices and processes from the prior art solving the mentioned problem. Possibilities of application are very wide - virtually in all cases and areas where presence, settling and/or removing scale imposes a problem.

To persons skilled in art and to others dealing with the above mentioned problems, it will be clear that it is possible to make numerous variants and modifications of here described cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale, without abandoning the character and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale, characterised by that the basic components of the device are: - active agent (17), - multi-stage pump (31), - duplicator tank and - control box (10).

2. Cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale, according to claim 1, characterised by that the active agent (17) consists of: - 75-percent phosphoric acid in the amount of 10-50 wt.%, preferably 20-40 wt.%, and particularly recommended 30-35 wt.%; - 31-percent muriatic acid in the amount of 5-25 wt.%, preferably 10-20 wt.%, and particularly recommended 12-18 wt.%; - EDTA in the amount of 2-5 wt.%, preferably 3-4 wt.%, and particularly recommended 3,4-3,6 wt.%; - glycol in the amount of 1-5 wt.%; - glycerol in the amount of 1-3 wt.% and - water in the amount of 30-65 wt.%.

3. Cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale, according to claims 1 and 2, characterised by that the device operates with: - increased temperature - optimally within the range 45-65°C, - increased pressure - optimally within the range 2-6 bars, - flow rate capacity 25-50 1/min, - possibility of changing direction of the active agent (17) circulation, - possibility of multiple use of the active agent (17) until the acidity value of the solvent reaches value of pH=3,5.

4. Cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale, according to claims 1 and 2, characterised by that: - by adequate choice of the kind, concentration and percentage of high-quality inhibitors in the active agent (17) it is achieved that treated surfaces, made of stainless steel, brass, copper, steel, rubber, plastic and similar, are not damaged in the process of removing scale, - the active agent (17) is non-toxic and safe for the staff, biodegradable and environmentally friendly due to the fact that it does not pollute the environment.

5. Cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale, according to claim 1, characterised by that: - the duplicator tank (boiler) is made of stainless steel tin and comprises the lid (8) for quick filling of required amount of the active agent (17), the elevated, separate outlet (4) and the central outlet (13) that is placed at the lowest point of the inner tank, - the integrated heater (5) in the interior of the outer tank (3) is used for indirect heating of the active agent (17).

6. Cleaning agent, device and process for removing scale, according to the preceding claims, characterised by that: - the sockets at the duplicator, produced in "click" version, provide quick and secure connection and disconnection of flexible tubes to the duplicator, as well as the possibility of reduction for all types of inch-threads from W to ³/4", for treated objects, - mobility of the device eliminates the need to move treated objects, - flexible tubes of adequate length ensure adaptability to any position of the treated object.